« Because We Can | Main | Team Chevy’s Race to the Championship »
That Camaro “Sound” is Now a Ringtone
Tom Peters
By Tom Peters
Director of Design
When FastLane posted the Camaro video with me a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice how many comments mentioned the sound of the Camaro.
Justin wrote:
- “WOOOOOW listen to that exhaust note! Can’t wait to hear the beast at full throttle.”
Bill said:
- “Plus the SOUND is awesome. My brother has a 69 with a 700hp small block with Flowmasters that sounds a lot like this one…”
And finally, Mr. Langlitz from Germany asked:
- “What about a cell-phone ring-tone from that gorgeous exhaust-sound?!”
Well Mr. Langlitz, here for you is a ringtone of the Camaro concept car engine sound. Enjoy.
Posted by Editor on September 12, 2006 11:34 AM
Comments
How cool is that??? Nice move GM!!
Posted by: Jeff Crew on September 12, 2006 12:04 PM
My father, brother and I are ALL diehard bowtie gearheads who can't wait for the new Camaro. This ringtone is one of the coolest things you guys could have done.
By the way, this is MUCH better than the Mustang ringtone!
Posted by: Johnathan Kiser on September 12, 2006 3:07 PM
Tom,
I certainly hope the cost cutters employed by GM don't screw this up. I've read somewhere that the main focus for the new Camaro is low cost. Sorry Tom but that isn't what this car is about and you will sadly miss the market if that is the main objective. Better to produce a car that people will actually want to buy so that they can actually "hear the ringtone" in their driveway every morning. The '69 Camaro is an icon and you have the chance to get it right once again. Please Tom, keep the Malibu and Impala parts bins away from the teams that are working on this car. Don't be afraid to spend some money to build in performance. And tell your designers to keep it real - simple, clean and true to the original.
Posted by: Frank Varney on September 12, 2006 8:50 PM
For the Newbies out there who want this ringtone, but don't know how to get it on their cell phones, would you mind posting a brief how-to?
Particuarly for those of us on Verizon phones (seeing as you're now tied to them via OnStar...)?
Posted by: ETMC on September 13, 2006 1:13 AM
hey bob - if you want to sell LOTS of high ticket cars, what you need to do limited run reissues of the legendary GM cars people know and love. forget using the old styling in new cars. Levi's hasn't stopped making 501 Jeans just because they also innovate, Capitol Records doesn't stop pressing up Beatles records because they develop new talent, etc.
Of course, I know the capital expenditures for auto mfg and other soft goods are vastly different worlds. Still, i'd think you could get sell 30,000 1967 SS Convertable Camaros today at $ 50 - $ 75 K each. Call it a 1967 "2.0" make them exact reproductions. License the big chunks of the operation out to other biz's to manufacture, to orig specs. You could make a GM Classics line a revolving menu of vintage models that rotates every 3 - 5 years.
I know the economics might take more than a few pointy heads to make the numbers line up... it just seems crazy that you've GM can continue to make a many of these beloved American vechicles. Screw updating them to current Fed Safety specs... tell the Feds' it's a 1967 model or whatever it may be... wishful thinking certainly. Come out with a 1957 "2.0" Bel Air Convertible. Charge $ 75 or 100k. They'll sell.
Posted by: pmoshay on September 13, 2006 2:51 AM
That's awesome: The Man who is busy designing some of the most important cars in GM's history makes the time to read these comments!
More proof that GM's people are aware of what customers want!
Posted by: Design_Kid
on September 13, 2006 8:37 AM
Hey ETMC-
Thanks for pointing that out about the downloading help. All cell phones are a little different in how you download ringtones to them. But check out this web site and hopefully it will be able to point you in the right direction and answer some questions.
http://cellphones.about.com/od/theringtonesfaq/l/blrfringtonefaq.htm
Posted by: Editor on September 13, 2006 11:55 AM
you know i was thinking of a nice ad campaign that gm could start fairly recently...
bumper stickers that say
"if you think this is fast, wait till you see my 09 camaro"
Posted by: Tim Geisler on September 13, 2006 1:33 PM
Dear Mr. Peters,
thank you so much for making my proposal true. It's really an honour for me. As I could read at the Road And Track yesterday, GM is already considering to sell this beautiful vehicle also in Europe. By doing the right promotion it should be successful over here, too.
Basically still a lot of people in Europe don't know much about your products or, even worse, they tend to listen to the garbage of prejudice, which still is told in Germany and other countries around.
This has to be changed. Just inform the European public about the facts!
Posted by: Mr. Langlitz (Germany) on September 13, 2006 4:06 PM
To ETMC:
This ringtone is a simple mp3-file. Maybe you can connect your phone to the computer (via USB) and transfer the file by using the corresponding phone-software (Motorola Phone Tools for example).
Hope I could help you.
Posted by: Mr. Langlitz (Germany) on September 13, 2006 4:16 PM
Mr. Langlitz,
While I do see USB cables for my phone (Samsung SCH-a870), I don't know of any software that would subsequently allow me to upload it.
Any way I can attach a file online and send via SMS?
I have to say I think this promo could have been better implemented...
Posted by: ETMC on September 14, 2006 12:49 PM
To ETMC:
Today I got the Camaro-sound on my phone by using my internet-provider (T-Online). They are offering a service, which allowed me to upload that file and to send a MMS, containing that file, to my own phone. My phone doesn't even have a computer-interface.
Maybe there's a provider for you available which offers the same feature.
To the responsible people at GM:
Maybe it would a great idea, to establish a number where you can request the Camaro-ringtone via SMS. That should be the easiest solution.
Posted by: Mr. Langlitz on September 14, 2006 3:14 PM
Nero fiddles while Rome burns.
Come on guys, the future of the corporation is hanging in the balance and we are amusing ourselves with clever ring tones?
Posted by: noel park on September 15, 2006 12:48 PM
Dear Mr. Park,
I think it's not all about just this ringtone, but basically I believe such merchandising-gear is helpful to strengthen the identification of the customers with GM's products. Here in Germany for example you can't get a Chevy-shirt, coffee-mug, baseball-cap or whatever. This should be changed, since some competitors offer such items.
Posted by: Mr. Langlitz (Germany) on September 15, 2006 4:28 PM
Killer sound. But it would sound 100 times better coming out the back of a Trans-Am.
Posted by: Stephen on September 16, 2006 9:23 PM
A Camaro built in Cannada, please...GM blew it again. GM execs would build their entire inventory outside the borders of American if they could. What a joke, an American muscle car, built in Canada....Laughing, sadly...
Posted by: JoseFrenchfry on September 18, 2006 2:30 PM
You don't get many chances. I traditionally bought Fords (1980 - 2000), but due to a family friend in the GM business, I bought a Cavalier in 2002 and loaded Venture in 2003. I've had quality issues - back wiper motor (repeated times), electrical issue with heated seats, and now power window problems on both vehicles. I wont buy another GM vehicle. If you can't provide a car with basic quality capability, no one will continue to buy your vehicles. My next purchase is a Honda or Toyota.
Posted by: A. Dilger on September 19, 2006 3:35 PM
me parece estar en la pista de pruebas cuando escucho el ring tone del sonido que emite el motor del camaro. Debe ser una experiencia inolvidble el conducirlo!
Posted by: Ricardo Ruiz M on September 20, 2006 9:15 PM
GM may not have sold many Firebirds/TransAms for the decade leading up to the demise of that product line. One reason is that those latter-day cars looked like every other pseudo-sports car on the market. But I would place money on the fact that you that you would add MANY units to your Pontiac sales figures by building a retro/modern Firebird similar to the new Camaro (think '69 Firebird). It would help bring back some customers you haven't seen for, oh, 20 years or more. Especially with a 100,000 mi. warranty to help all of those owners who are hesitant about buying American. You can probably leave the screaming chicken in obscurity, tho'.
Posted by: B. James on September 26, 2006 10:45 AM
Europe gets the Chevy Epica, and we are stuck with Malibu. Austrailia gets the net zeta cars and we don't. The new Caprice is a knockout and the middle east and China get it. What's up with this?
Posted by: Charles Rohde on September 29, 2006 9:44 PM
Will the 2009 "Camaro" have the option for a navigation system? Can't wait till 2009. Thanks!
Posted by: Mason on October 3, 2006 12:49 PM
Guys, the new Camaro is a really cool car, but if you want it to sell like hotcakes, here is a simple recipe. Make the car look as much like a 69 Camaro as possible, but with all the modern ammenities. Also keep the cost down where it should be and you will not be able to keep up with demand. This I guarantee.
Posted by: Vicious6 on October 4, 2006 1:57 AM
Mason, Regarding your question about navigation in the next generation Camaro, I checked with the Chevy product communications folks. They said it's too early in the product development cycle to provide details about standard equipment or options. Personally, I love GM's onboard and OnStar navigation systems. But, if I had a new Camaro to drive, most of the time I wouldn't care where I was going as long as I was on the open road.
-- Best regards, Bill Betts, GM Communications web services manager.
Posted by: Bill on October 4, 2006 1:10 PM
The 09 concept camaro looks nothing like a 69. I have owned 5 camaros including a 69. I would rather spend 50 grand for a nice restored 69 than dump 30 or 40 grand on that ugly looking concept. If GM wants a successful 09 camaro, they should get rid of the giant 20" wheels, offer colors like hugger orange with Z28 stripes, and make it look as much like the 69 as possible. Oh and a rally sport option like the 69 would really be a hit!
Posted by: Mike leonardo on December 12, 2006 2:15 AM
OMG IM IN LOVE!!! i hope this is my first car
Posted by: Jimmy on November 28, 2007 6:04 PM
